House Calls: Local rooms get virtual design makeovers

The Washington Post pairs local readers’ design challenges with an interior designer. The result is a before and after makeover with tips and tricks for making the most out of the space.

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Vienna, VA - June 7: Corinne Abbott and her husband Bob Schmitt have their room photographed for a redesign on Thursday, June 7, 2012 in Vienna, VA. (Photo by Leah L. Jones/For the Washington Post)

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

House calls illustration for 8/9 Local Living

Julius Goyanko for The Washington Post / JULIUS GOYANKO FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Herndon, VA - May 23: Joanna Wilbur has her patio photographed for a redesign on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 in Herndon, VA. (Photo by Leah L. Jones/For the Washington Post)

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

McLean, VA - May 12: Mark Shankroff and his wife Ann have their room photographed for a redesign on Saturday, May 12, 2012 in McLean, VA. (Photo by Leah L. Jones/For the Washington Post)

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Shannon Munn's design of Mark and Ann Shankroff's McLean living room

Julius Goyanko for The Washington Post / JULIUS GOYANKO FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Takoma Park, MD - May 2: Carla Komich has her room photographed for a redesign on May 2, 2012 in Takoma Park, MD. (Photo by Leah L. Jones/For the Washington Post)

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Michelle Timberlake's design of the Komich Dining Room for Local Livings 7/19/12 House Calls column

Julius Goyanko for The Washington Post / JULIUS GOYANKO FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Silver Spring, MD - May 11: Lisa Nola Wright and her husband Andrew Wright have their room photographed for a redesign on May 11, 2012 in Silver Spring, MD. (Photo by Leah L. Jones/For the Washington Post)

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Charlotte Bravo's design of Sears Kit House for 7/12 Local Living House Calls

Julius Goyanko for The Washington Post / JULIUS GOYANKO FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Alexandria, VA - May 17: Ben & Jessica Inman have their room photographed for a redesign on Thursday, May 17, 2012 in Alexandria, VA. (Photo by Leah L. Jones/For the Washington Post)

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Before: Stephanie Waldrop is stuck in her project to turn her den into an office and library.

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Designer Pierre Jean-Baptiste chose blue walls and accessories to turn the den into a sophisticated and comfortable office.

Julius Goyanko

Sallie Twentyman wants to make the most out of her 17-by-5 balocony in Vienna. She wants it to be a comfortable space that seats at least six for family meals.

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Before: Priti Brahma, of the District, has wanted to turn her attic into a home office for years but never got around to it. She’s ready to invest in a new work space but is stuck on the room’s strange shape and lone window.

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

After: By adding a TV, a wall of filing cabinets and a reading nook, designer Erin Paige Pitts outfits the attic with all the amenities of a luxury office.

Before: Nina Halper wants to redecorate the 11-by-14 foot den near the entrance to her home in Petworth. A large sofa is crucial. Her Saluki wolfhound, Sabra, tends to take over the room.

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

After: By updating the tile around the fireplace and adding a chandelier, designer Liza Jones makes the small den feel grand.

Before: Karl and Roberta Berry of Waldorf are struggling to decorate their dated family room. They want a casual, cozy space where people can watch movies, but it should be brighter than a home theater. Their wish list includes wood floors, recessed lighting and storage.

Leah L. Jones

After: By adding lots of lighting and a cool color scheme of gray and blue, designer Amy Ross gives the old space a modern edge.

Before: Terry and Steve Long think their Bethesda bedroom looks fussy. They want the space to be sunny and less formal. They’re okay with mounting the TV on the wall, and the pink paint has to go.

Leah L. Jones

After: Editing is key in designer Sharon Kleinman’s approach. By consolidating furniture and emphasizing texture over patterns, she makes the room feel cozy and less cluttered.

Before: It’s barbecue season, so we asked Steve Wlodarczyk of Botanical Decorators to give this plain patio a makeover.

BigStock / BIGSTOCK

After: By establishing distinct areas for lounging and dining, and adding color with flowers and planters, Wlodarczyk creates a backyard retreat.

Julius Goyanko

Before: For eight years, Rachel Larris has shared her 936-square-foot Arlington apartment with a roommate. Now she has the space to herself. She wants to upgrade her furniture and hang art. But she is not allowed to paint.

Leah L. Jones / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

After: With colorful accessories and a wall of bookcases and storage, designer Caroline McCandlish makes the small, plain room live large.

Before: We took a kitchen with black countertops, oak cabinets and stainless-steel appliances, and asked a local designer to give it some personality.

bigstock

After: By replacing the hardwood floors with porcelain tile and turning the island into a seating area, designer Allie Mann made the room a colorful place for family gatherings.Read about this makeover

Before: Kitty and Tom Whitehead of Capitol Hill are expecting their second baby in July. They’re turning the guest room into a bedroom for their daughter, Alice, 2, and want it to be fresh, modern and inviting, but not over-the-top girly.

Leah L Jones

After: To make the room sophisticated and fun, designer Jill Sorensen recommends investing in furniture that will last, accented with inexpensive accessories. Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: After moving to a house in Springfield from a townhouse in Alexandria, Alisa Goetz faced an unexpected issue: too much space. The sunroom should be the spot where her daughters, Amelia, 7 and Vivian, 4, can do crafts and homework.

Leah L. Jones / For the Washington Post

By adding hidden storage and movable seating, designer Jessica Granda Bonness creates a room that satisfies a variety of needs for the family. | <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home-garden/a-multipurpose-sunroom-in-springfield/2012/02/22/gIQA0VBAiR_story.html'>Read about this makeover</a>

By adding hidden storage and movable seating, designer Jessica Granda Bonness creates a room that satisfies a variety of needs for the family. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For the Washington Post

Before: Elissa Myers, a single mom with two toddlers in Waldorf, longs to make over her dark living room. Last winter, her husband died of cardiac arrest while watching football in the space, and she’d like it to feel cheery again.

Leah L. Jones / For the Washington Post

After: “Simplify, simplify, simplify,” is the suggestion of designers Tracy Schlegel and Kelcey Huff. They recommend painting the walls a breezy blue and removing the stove and dark chair rail. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For the Washington Post

Before: Eric and Jennifer Jewell of Hamilton are struggling with their 19-by-18-foot living room. They’d like it to feel cozy and clean for their 4-year-old twin girls. They’re considering adding a second story and hardwood floors, but their top priority is an area for conversation.

Leah L. Jones / For The Washington Post

After: By grouping the seating in the center of the room and mounting the TV on the wall, Denise Standen and Anne Quinn make the cavernous space feel intimate. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For the Washington Post

Before: After Rachel and Rob Gibson married in October, they wanted their bedroom to feel special. They’ve lived in their Bethesda apartment since 2009 and call the room a “hodgepodge of old furniture” from their single days.

Leah L. Jones / For the Washington Post

After: Designer April Force Pardoe shifts the bed to the center of the room and chooses classic, neutral pieces that the couple can use in a future home. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For the Washington Post

Before: A graduate student in Baltimore needs to makeover her studio apartment, which includes this 6-by-7-foot sleeping alcove.

Leah L. Jones / For The Washington Post

After: By adding curtains and painting the walls a calming combination of beige and blue, Designer Margery Wedderburn turns the sleeping alcove into a student's sanctuary. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: The living portion of the Baltimore apartment posed similar challenges. The white walls, white carpet and limited space made the room feel like a cell.

Leah L. Jones / For The Washington Post

After: Designer Margery Wedderburn added a wall storage unit and mismatched dining room table and chairs to give the space a whimsical yet sophisticated look. Decorative accents such as a bust of Beethoven and framed artwork speak to the homeowner's personality and make the apartment feel like home. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: These Potomac newlyweds wanted to make their guest room feel like Florence, Italy, where they spent their honeymoon. But with the TV on the floor and bare walls, it hardly felt like a romantic getaway.

Leah L. Jones / For The Washington Post

After: By painting the walls a soft blue and replacing the ceiling fixture with an elegant chandelier, designer Barbara Margolis breathed some fresh, Florentine life into the dull space. The TV was moved to sit atop the dresser and the bed was given an intricate headboard to occupy more of the wall. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: This dark basement living room in Burke was in desperate need of storage and light.

Leah L. Jones / For The Washington Post

After: By adding a wall storage unit and bright accessories, such as red vases and a patterned area rug, designer Lisa Montague makes the dark space both fresh and functional. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: The furniture in this Mount Vernon dining room thought was too small. In the makeover, the homeowners requested a new rug and buffet.

Leah L. Jones / For The Washington Post

After: Designer Katie Liverman added delicate wall sconces and a series of framed pieces of art to fill up the wall. A larger chandelier and table make the space feel decorated to scale. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: How to decorate a plain mantel for the holidays?

Bigstockphoto

After: Designer Camille Saum chose a green and orange theme for her decorations, which included natural greenery and small candles. On the mantel, she placed silver reindeer figurines for a touch of Christmas glamour. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: How to decorate a dining room for Christmas dinner?

Bigstockphoto

After: By incorporating miniature orange trees and thick, bay leaf garland, designer Dana Tydings brings the dull dining room to life. | <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home-garden/2011/12/09/gIQA9x1ttO_story.html'>Read about this makeover</a>

After: By incorporating miniature orange trees and thick, bay leaf garland, designer Dana Tydings brings the dull dining room to life. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: How to decorate a foyer for the holiday season?

Bigstockphoto

After: By using lush greenery, ornamented topiaries and faux-fur pillows, designer Kelley Proxmire pulls off a winter theme in unexpected ways. | <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home-garden/house-calls-time-to-deck-the-hallways/2011/12/02/gIQAV3UGdO_story.html'>Read about this makeover</a>

After: By using lush greenery, ornamented topiaries and faux-fur pillows, designer Kelley Proxmire pulls off a winter theme in unexpected ways. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

Before: The homeowners of this Fairfax living room are stuck. They can't figure out how to make the dark space comfortable and inviting for guests.

Leah L. Jones

After: With a new floor plan and airy, light color palette, designer Matthew Swingly enlarges and updates this family space. | <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home-garden/dc-designer-creates-space-for-the-entire-family/2011/11/07/gIQAF7riRN_story.html'>Read about this makeover</a>

After: With a new floor plan and airy, light color palette, designer Matthew Swingly enlarges and updates this family space. | Read about this makeover

Julius Goyanko / For The Washington Post

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